Efficacy of biocontrol-agents and plant extracts against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing stem rot of chickpea

The present study was conducted to evaluate biocontrol-agents, including Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens and plant extracts, Ginger, Garlic, Tulsi, Lemon grass and Neem against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (ON831560.1) under in vitro condition. All the biocontrol-agents suppressed the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum. Maximum suppression (69.29%) was observed with T. harzianum, followed by T. viride, which was on par with each other. The Pseudomonas fluorescens was observed to have minimum suppression (61.51%) but more than the control. Among the plant extracts maximum percent inhibition of the pathogenic fungus was observed in treatment with Neem leaf extract (42.58%), followed by garlic clove extract, ginger rhizome extract, and lemon grass leaf, while the minimum per cent inhibition was observed in Tulsi leaf extract (12.30%).